A quiet winter woodland can suddenly explode with bird life. Jack Laws explains how to tell some of the common species apart.
Birds of Different Feathers Flock Together in Winter
December 28, 2018 •
John Muir Laws
Naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws is the author of the Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide. Learn more and find class schedules at johnmuirlaws.com.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Freshwater Jellyfish Invade California Lakes and Ponds
October 1, 2018 •
Native to China, Craspedacusta sowerbii is found in freshwater lakes and ponds on every continent.
Naturalist’s Notebook: How An Ant Lion Pit Works
June 26, 2018 •
Ant lions trap their prey in steep pits.
Naturalist’s Notebook: How to Tell Northern California Hawks Apart
March 30, 2018 •
Watching distant raptors in dim light? Ignore color and look at values.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Woodrats Fumigate Their Nests With Bay Leaves to Control Fleas
January 2, 2018 •
Life is so surprisingly webbed and interconnected.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Best Spots to Find Migrating Swifts in the Bay Area
September 25, 2017 •
Every fall thousands of Vaux’s swifts migrate south, congregating at dusk in swirling flocks. Here’s how to find them when they pass through the Bay Area.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Illustrated Squirrels of the Bay Area
July 1, 2017 •
Follow the “kuks” and “quaaas” to find marauding hawks or foxes.
Naturalist’s Notebook: They Lowered the Level of San Mateo’s Marina Lagoon and Found … These Things
April 4, 2017 •
Australian tube worms are now widespread in brackish waters of the San Francisco Bay.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Good Algae Gone Bad
January 1, 2017 •
Blue-green algae has made some Bay Area ponds dangerous
Naturalist’s Notebook: An Illustrated Guide to Watching for Humpback Whales
October 14, 2016 •
What to look for when watching humpbacks.